@ThatGuy - You stated:
"That's the thing about the Bible. How it can maintain continuity over so many years, while written by so many men with different backgrounds. And then the fact that it is translated and still accurate today is nothing short of a miracle. That's more evidence of divine authorship.
Not having an urge to familiarize yourself with the Bible? Then you can't really critique it then. Like I've said before, people have many misconceptions about the Bible, even though many beliefs are not from the Bible itself."
First let me say I agree with your statement to familiarize yourself with the bible. It seems many dont have time to do it these days, which is a real shame. But I find that a very serious study of the bible actually leads you away from christianity. At least it did for me. May I ask you a few questions?
By what standard are you saying that the bible "mantained continuity"? The old testiment is was thrown together by old Jewish redactors and is rittled many mistakes and contradictions. The very first page of the bible contradicts itself. The book is simply a thrown together work by many men working on the sholders of others, and consciously writing up incidents to make sure they "fulfill prophacy". The new testament is the same way. When did Jesus die? In what order was the world created? Where was Jesus born? These are all questions with multiple answers that all come from the bible. Yes, it really does give two different answers to each of these questions. And that is just scratching the surface. Historical accuracy is also shady in many parts, (for example the Roman census) and I find that hard to believe that this was all miracle work.
Not to mention the very message of each of the works and the aim of each of the writers in both the old and new testament have different aims and ambitions. It comes out clearly in any close reading. What is the "continuity" that impresses you?
